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News: Season Preview: Cross Country Teams Get Feet Wet At Covert Meet

Pasadena City College men's and women's cross country head coach Armand Crespo expects the 2013 season to be another campaign that will start slowly but build toward the Lancers making premium team and individual finishes.

The Lancers opened the season Saturday at the Cal State Fullerton Mark Covert Classic held at Carbon Canyon Park's course. The 8-kilometer men's race, featuring a bevy of 4-year university runners, saw sophomore Brendan Greene (La Canada High) the only Lancer to finish in the top 100 (169 runners overall) with a 94th place at 28 minutes, 23.5 seconds.

Other PCC runners who are expected to run meets this year but did not participate at the Covert Classic are two freshmen from Gabrielino High in Emilio Barragan-Steimer and freshman Bryce Van Ross.

PCC WOMEN'S TEAM

Sophomore Christina Shamirian (Burbank High) leads a 16-runner women Lancers' squad going into the 2013 season. Shamirian, who was an outstanding 61st place for top PCC time at last year's Southern California Regional Championships, placed 83rd of 147 runners at the Covert Classic to again top all Pasadena runners.

Over the 5-k women's course, Shamirian finished with a 20:39.2 time. Freshman Tansica Sunkamaneevongse was a strong 85th place (20:40.6) and right on Shamirian's heels. Sunkamaneevongse placed 87th at last year's CIF Division I Championships while representing Arcadia High as a senior.

"We have some talented runners, including Christina and Tansica," Crespo said. "We've finished in the top 15 at state in each of the last few seasons and our goal is to continue to race as a team among the state leaders. It will be fun to see how different runners excel and improve from meet to meet."

On Friday, Sept. 6, the Lancers teams will be in action at the Rio Hondo Classic.